Pragmatics
(Social Communication)
Pragmatic language skills are what we use in everyday communications to people. If you have difficulty with: looking at a speaker, taking turns when talking to others, not knowing when to laugh, your tone, staying on topic, and picking up a non-verbal cue/hint from others, then you may have difficulty with pragmatics (social communication).
Pragmatic language skills include three major components:
How we say something and changing our language to the listener
- Speak differently outside vs. inside and to children vs. adults
- Giving the right volume of speech
- Providing appropriate details to strangers vs. friends
- Understanding & adjusting to the listeners body language
What we say
- Asking you for something
- Demanding something
- Promising you something
- Wanting something
- Telling you something
How appropriate what you say is given the situation you are speaking in
- Staying on the topic and/or changing topics
- Eye contact
- Facial expressions
- Knowing the distance to stand away from others when speaking
- Using the right gestures
Ways to improve pragmatic (Social Communication) skills:
- Play games that require turn taking and be supportive when losing
- Practice different facial expressions and what that expression means
- Role play the correct way to act in different social situations
- Social stories show/tell how someone should act in different social situations
- Encourage appropriate greetings & body language during social situations
- Review recent social interactions